Barcelona confirm they will temporarily leave Camp Nou during renovation project
Barcelona have confirmed that work on Camp Nou redevelopment will begin in June, with the project scheduled for completion during the 2025/26 campaign.
However, the nature of the works will mean that Barça will have to temporarily leave their home for the duration of the 2023/24 season and will instead play home games at the Lluis Companys Stadium, which hosted the 1992 Olympics and was formerly home to city rivals Espanyol.
With a build permit approved by the city council, initial work on Camp Nou can begin as soon as this season is over. The early focus will be on the stadium’s first and second tiers, as well as technology aspects, the surrounding area and exterior.
That phase of the project will include demolition of an additional structure in the south stand where the medical centre was located, general restoration work, structural finishes, a new telecoms system, new facilities for the TV compound and more.
Setting out the timeline of the renovation, the club has also confirmed that the summer of 2023 will see the demolition of the third tier, ensuring that the Camp Nou can still operate at full capacity until then – bringing that part of it forward would have meant 50% reduced capacity.
Work will continue year-round in 2023/24, which is why a temporary home is needed. The club and city council are currently working on the final details of a season-long switch to the aforementioned Lluis Companys Stadium in the green and hilly Montjuic area of the city.
Barça will be able to return to Camp Nou in 2024/25, but its capacity will be capped at 50% of the stadium’s normal size. The expectation is that the development will be fully finished at some point during the 2025/26 season, potentially up to four years from now.
The club recently announced a lucrative new partnership with music streaming service Spotify, which includes long-term naming right to Camp Nou, as well as shirt sponsorship. The deal will pump an estimated €280m of much-needed revenue into the club over the next few years.
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